Motor-truck trailer



Dec. 30, 1930.

J. SALOMONSEN MOTOR TRUCK TRAILER Filed Nov. 19, 1925 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 30, 1930. J. ALoMoNsEN 1,787,213

' YMOTOR TRUCK TRAILER Filed Nov. 19, 3.925 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 sf t J. SALOMONSEN MOTOR TRUCK TRAILER Filed Nov. 19,

Dec. 30, 1930.

1925 8 Sheetsf-Sheet 3 Dec. 3o, 193.0.

. l. sALoMoNsr-:N

MGTOR TRUCK TRAILER Filed Nov. 19, 1925 8 She'ets-Sheet 4 Dec. 30, 1930. J. sALoMoNsl-:N 1,787,213

MOTOR TRUCK TRAILER 'v Filed Nov. 19. 1925 asheeis-sheet v 5 J. SALOMONSEN MOTOR'TRUCK TRAILER Filed NOV. 19,

Dec, y3o, 1930.

1925 8 sheets-sheet e Dec. 30, 1930. J. sALoMoNsEN MOTOR TRUCK TRAILER 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 19, 1925 Dec. 30, 1930. J. sALoMoNsEN 1,737,213-

uoToR TRUCK TRAILER Filed Nov. 19'. 1925- sheets-sheet a which,

lPatented i Dec. 30, 1930 Qumran 4S'inrss PATENT OFFICE l JACOB sALoMoNsEN, or GREENWOOD, WISCONSIN -MOTOR-TRUCK TRAILER My invention relates-'to a motor truck trailer,'especially rdesigned to receive driving f power from a towing vehicleandto be equipypedwith its own transmission mechanism 's' whereby tobe driven behind the towing ve'- hicleby power received therefrom, and my invention has for its mainobject the pro# vision of an improved construction of this character which will beV able to make short lo'turns in trailing the tow and during the Vap'- plica-tionv to its front and rear axles of the driving power received from the'tow.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

`The inventionfconsists in the combination 15k and arrangements :ofparts hereinafter den Vscribed and claimed.`

The invention will be best understood reference Yto 'the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in Fig. 1 represents tional view through thetransmission mecha! nism for vboth the front and rear running gears of the trailer, this view being taken substantiallyon theline k2li-2A of Fig.V

' B-'A Y Fig. 3 is a top plan of the parts shown in Fig. 2, this view being taken substantially7 onY the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; p

Fig. 3-A is a top planof the parts shown in Fig. 2-A, this view being taken substany.

ti ally on the line 3A-3A of Fig. 2-A; j

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal secl tional-elevation of the'forward kportion of the trailer, showing the swiveled connection between the r`body of the trailer and the front running gear therefor; n

Fig. 5 is a top plan view taken on the line G 5'-5V of Fig. 4, and showing additionally the junction with the a fragmentary longitudinal sectional yelevation of a'motor truck yof gear caselli is best 19, 1925. .Serial No. 69,1983.

coupling between the motor truck tow andr the trailer;

Fig. represents a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; i

Fig. 7 represents a sectional plan of the 55 transmission mechanism associated withthe front running gear of the trailer, this view comprising an assembly of the parts appearing on the line 7 7 of Fig. 2, taken in conparts appearing onfthe line 'Tf-7 of Fig. 2 A; f

Fig. 8 represents a plan view taken substantially on the line 8-8of Fig. 9;

Fig. '9 is a central vertical section taken V substantially on the line 9 9 of Fig. 2*-A; 65

Fig. 10 is a cross section taken through the transversely extending rack bars,thissection being taken substantially on thek line 10-10 ofFig. 11; and

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the transverse 70 rack barsand parts associated therewith.

"With more particular reference to the parts exemplified in the accompanying drawings,y the numeral 12 denotes a fragmentary part of the rear portion of a motor truck tow provided with suitable rear running gear, denoted generally by the numeral 13 and including any suitable type of gear case 14 containing differential gearing of any suitable type whereby, lin negotiating turns or curves,the lag of Onerear travel wheel will equal substantially the headway of the other rear travel' wheel. The dilierential gearingl illustrated in Figs.

2 and 3, and includes a driving gear 15, a 85 differential gear 16 and the usual differential pinions 17 Power is transmitted todriving gear 15 by the usual pinion 18 arrangedfon the end of the transmission shaft 19k which receives its power from the usual motor or powertplant (not show carried by the motor truck tow 12. f

The trailer may consist of any suitable trailer truck having a load'carrying truck body 20 supported at the rear by suitable 95 running gear 21. Like the rear running gear for the motor truck 12, the rear running gear 21 of the trailer includes a gear case 22 con-' taining differential gearing precisely like. that pro-vided for the rear running gear 'of 100 sion shaft 27 is equipped with-a wheel 295-- l y t truck bodyf may themotor truck tow.,V The dierentialgearing within theY gear case 22 is best illustrated 1n Figs. V2A and 3-A, the same including a Y,driving gear 23, a'dierential gear 24 and Ydifferential pinions 25. ylilith the driving 'gear 23 kis engaged a pinion 26 provided on the end of the ltr-ansmission shaftf27 whose, rear portion may:beconvenientlyV journalled in abearing 28 projecting from the gear casev 22. Preferably and as lsho-wn, ythe transmisprovided circumferentially with rollersl 3 0; said wheel 29, with its rollers, being "seated withinthe bearing 28,r as best shownin Fig.y f

3-`-A, whereby an anti-friotion mounting is furnished.y The forward portion. of the transmission shaft 27 is mounted in association. with the compensationl gearing as will be more fully explainedlhereinafter...

As wi'llxbegseen' from anfinspection of Figs.

1,-4Jand 5., the forward portion-of thextruck:

body-i20zis: ySwiveledupon a front frame` with which-theffront running gearis associatejchso 'that boththe front vframe and front running geaiareiadapted to be turnedasfafunit rela'- tively to the truck body l20. To this end,'the

bolster 3-1. a To' this bolster, midway, as

'length-which'. means midway thev width ofV thetrailer; body, there-.is secured by bolts 32 'f or, other equivalent-meansgia dependingfemale swivel blocki33iw=34 representsas a whole the frame to which-'thefront running y male swivelblock 38 is Vpro-.vdedwith anannular recess 39`ingwhioh arearranged a series yof rollers whosezaxes-4l` are'suitably argear;is:attachedv` thro-,ughjthe i semi-elliptical n The frame, 34 yisfpreferably of rectangular formfasbestrshownin Fig.VV 5",l transversely extend,-VV

Ispring; 35.:-

and.: supports thereon av ing bolster 36`upon which is secured by screws or other suitable; means,

cooperates as best l.illustrated inz Fi g., 4'.. The

ranged in? the opposingwalls dening the annularrecess 39;'as. illustrated in Figs. 4

andr5. By -Vthis Y. arrangement, the femalev lswiveled block 33 'hasantifrictional mounting upon the male-swiveled block 348, so that Ythefront running gear frame 34 may freely,

turn eithery to the rightor to the left 'infol-Y lowing the motortruck tow. `Provision is made for detachably couplingthe front running gear frame tothe tow rand-f. to this end, theforwardfend'42A of the frame, which end- Vis of channel shape in cross-'section yas shown ingffront-fpart'42 andthe tongu in Figs. 1 and 4,"is adaptedtoreceive the v end ofthe tongue 43,'thejactual connection be- ""f.tw,een this-tongue and thechannel shapedy 5 parti-.42 consisting preferably .ofga'coupling pin 44 which passes through suitable aper-lV tures pro-vided verticallythrough the frame'43. In this connectionfit will Vbe notedtliat theif pin r44 A be conveniently .provided v with an underneath transversely' extending az male swiveli .block `38fwithwhich the female swivel' 33 not only connects the tongueto the frame, i

but also provides a'vertical pivotabout Awhich `the' front running ,gear of the trailer 'rnay relatively turn. vTo the tongue 43 is pivoted' at 45 a forward tongue portion 46 whose for- Y ward end is secured upon aihorizontal vpivot '.47 carried*l by the coupling member48 depending for the'gpurpose, fr omlthe: rear end `ofthe tow. f The coupling thus provided between the tow and the trailer makesprovision for both'lateralandvertical play between the vrear.portionof the tow andthe front running gear ofit'he trailer.

The `front running gearof the trailer, referred to-in 'general bythe numeral 49, in-

cludes-a gearcase() which contains difieren-f"` tial gearf precisely Vlike that., contained inthe gear-casesf22aand 14. Thus,rthe differentialV the l casej 50 includesI ai driving Y gear.A within;

'geary 5l, ia. differential gear y 5 2 and the 'differ- .entialpinionsp53- Asillustrated in Figs. 2,.' 'and 3, thev driving gear lgisoperatedby aV 1 pinion 54 on the shaft 55 suitably journalled lby meanszof aL roller gearv ar-rangedin aj" so bearing, 57 projecting fromA lthe Q gearcase 50 and-*also Yin a bearing headj58'projecting rearwardly from vthe gear 'case' 140i' the rear theyshaift '55' is a universalfjoint l' 9,fwhichV maybe of-v any suitable ltype. On its forward e t end,` the shaft is providedwith avgear()k Yrunning. gear of' the tow. ;Incorporated]inf which meshes withthegear til-of the short e studfshaft V62ha-ving-fbearing at163 in the gear t case and having-apinion 64 in mesh with the driving gear l5 Aof the rear axle difere- Y. l

tial for the tow.. yIn'v this manner driving power. iis taken Afrom the frear axle difieren tial of the towandV Ytransmitted tothe front axle differential ofthe trailer. In order to carry out the'purposes of'my` improvementsVthegear-*case 50 is made with Y a dependingk extension 65 Awherein is 't rangedb,elow.the front' axle diferentiah a compensation gear-ing arrangement through which power is transmittedy from the shaftV 55. to theA shaft 27;. Extending upwardly fromr the casejextension .65 in substantially p Vaxial alinement with the axi'al'centers of the swivelblochs, isthe stud shaft 66, which is steppedfor reduced as atf'?V and68. Mounted'V upon'the stepped'or reducedparts 67 and y68 .is a-.combination,differential.arm 69 and' an intermediaterdisk orl gear 70, thesame being rigidly" connected bypa hub 71Yon` which isY rotatably. fitted a dri'vefgear 722 Rotatably -mounted upon the reduced portion 68, vjust over theintermediate gear v 7 0'-, is ladriven gear 73. "Projecting atsuitable intervals from the periphery of "the" intermediate dish orgear 79 are fixed 4spindles 74 carrying` A.

vpinions 7 5 which are engaged between the drive gear 72A andthe drivenfv gear 73. lt -will be .evident Ythat these 'pinions ,servey as f the-means byV whichA power may be: transmittedfrom'fthe 4drive gear 72 to they driven gear 7 3. The drive gear 72 receives its'power from theshaft through the following chain of gears comprising a' gear76 fixed onthe shaft a pair of intermediate gears 77 operable on stud shafts 7 Sfixed in the extension 65; and thege'ar 79 fast-on the shaft 8O which carries a pinion 81 in mesh with the drive gear 72. As best illustrated in Fig. 9, the

transmission shaft 27 at its forward end,

has Ytelescoping fit on a retaining arm 82 which is Vpivoted atf83 to the top end of the stud shaft 66. On vthe end of they transmis- 345 of the motor truclr.

sion shaft 27, which surrounds the retaining arm 82, is a pinion'84 which is in mesh with i thegdriven gear'73. As will be understood when the trailer is angled relatively to the motor truclnthe curved rack l86 supported by the hanger 87 attached to the body of the trailer, will yin its Vsweep .to the :right or left revolve tliepinion 85 whereupon the arm 69 onwhich the pinion is attached will swing to theleft or right to an extent dictated bv the movement of the .upperrack 87 which latter `is attached to theY hanger 88 on the frame laits-lateral sweep the arm 69will revolve the intermediate gear 70 and consequentlyy Vthe pinion 7 5y on the spindles 7 4, constituting a compensating systenietl gearing. By thisarrangement, power l Vis-ta'ken from theshaft 55 and transmitted to' thertransmission shaft 27, the incorporation ofthe compensation gearing compris-- ing drive gear 72, diifeiential pinions and driven gear 73 providing means whereby the swiveled front running-gear may be moved relatively tothe truck bodyV of the trailer,V

while poweris being continuously transmitted to the transmission shaft 27 Vfor driving the rear axle differential. Moreover,tli`is arrangement, as will benoted, enables a differential to be employed in connection with the swiveled front running gear whereby continuously to apply power to the same during the movements thereof relatively Yto the trailer body. To better maintain ythe intermediate 'gear 7 Ov and to allow full freedom of movementrelatively to the trailer body, the differential arm 69 extends rearwardly for a considerable distanceV as `best shown in Fig.

.2%A, andisyprovided with a pinion which is'engaged between two curved racks, 86 and 87 As will be best understood from an inspection of Figs. l, l() andll, the lower curved rack SGis supported at its opposite I Vends `by'fhangers 87 which depend from the truck body of the trailer. rlhe other curved rack 87 is supported at its opposite ends by hangers 88 which depend from the frame 34:. Under this arrangement,the curved rack 86 moves with the movementof the trailer bodv,

while the curved'rack 8,7VV moves with tlie niovement'of thefront running gear which isswiveledunder the trailer body. Since the curved racks 86 and87 always move in opposite`v directions, the pinion 85 on the differential arm 6,9,is always foundinI a position centrally of the 'racks when-the -traileris moving straight ahead, the said pinion deviating from such central position accordingly as the samel rate of speed with which the tow proceeds. A

TWhile l have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capableof variation and modification without departing from the sprit of the invention. I, therefore, do not kwish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire kto avail myself of such variations and modificationsas come within the scope of the appended. claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

l. The combination with a motor trucl-c trailer having a swiveled front running gear structure; a rear axle differential and a transmission shaft forA said differential; saidfront running gear adapted to be swung on a vertical axis, relative to said trailer; of power receiving shaft on the front running gear structure; a stud shaft substantially coaxial with the swivel axis on which the front running gear'structure turns; gearing mounted on the studshaft comprising a driven gear, a drive gear and an intermediate gear with pinions for operating' the driven gear from the drive gear; a drive connection between the power receiving shaft and drive gear; and a driving connection between the driven' gear and transmission shaft, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a motor truck trailer having a swiveled front running gear structure, a rear axle differential and a transmission shaft for said diiferential; of

a power receiving shaftfon the front runf ning gear structure.; a stud shaft' on said structure; compensation gearing arranged on said stud shaft for receiving power from o the power receiving shaft and transmitting' power tothe transmission shaft, curved rracks carried respectively by said structure and the trailer proper; and a differential arm fixed to said. intermediate gea-r and having a pinion engaging between said racks, substantially as described. o i 3. lThe combination -with a motor truckr trailer having a swiveled front'riinning" gear structure; *a rear axle diderential 'and a trailer shaving' a swiveledv front 'runningv gear structure; a "rear axle diiferential and trans- 1 mission sliaftfo'r 'said'differentialn of a stud shaft arranged oni-the "front running gear structure and carrying a driven gear, adrive gear andy an intermediate gear' with', pinons for operatingthe drivengear from the drive gear; curved `rackscarried*respectively by said structure 'and by the trailer proper;y 'a differential arm fixed to said Vintermediate gear and having a pinion engaging between ksaidvracks, Vand a drive connection between said driven gear'and said'transmissi'on shait,V

substantially as described.y f

4. The ycombination with ay motor truck transmission shaft for said differential, of

a stud'shaft arranged on vthe front running .gear structure and'carrying a'driven gear, a-

drive. `gear and anwintermediate gear with pinions 'for operating 'the driven gear from the' drive gear; curved racks carried respectively by said structure and by the trailer proper; a differentialy arm lixed to saidv intermedi'ate'gear and'havin'ga pinion engaging jbetween'said racks,'a pinion on theV transj mission shaftengagingthe drivengear Yand an arm pivoted to said stud shaft and telescoped bysaid transmission shaft, substantially as described. ,Y '5. A motortrucktrailerhaving, in Vcombination, a rear axle differential; a swiveled front Y running: gear structure including a front axle differential; a power receiving shaft arranged on said Vstructure for oper'-` ating said frontV axle dierential; compensation gearing arranged on said structure Y,a"transmission shaft Aconnected to said dif-y ferential. gearing; a front running gear as-V sociated with a frame struc-ture; vsaid'front yrunning gear adapted to be swung on a veri bythe .frame structure by which to connect the trailerto a tow; a power receiving shaft anda scribed. v Y Y .A

6. A motor truck trailer having, in combi-l comprising a V`driven gear, 'a drive gear and .an intermediate gear provided with pinions engaging between the "driven gear andfdrive gear, means for loperating, the drive gear from said power receiving shaft; means for operatingv therear axle differentialk fromy said driven shaft; racks carried,'respective saidstructiire and the trailer proper; v differential arm fixed Vto the' intermediate gear and havingV a gear engaging between said racks, Lsubstantially Y as de` nation, 'a truck body Vprovidedwith a rear running gear including differential gearing;

tical axis'relative to said'V trailer; a swivel connection connecting theyframe structiire to the truck'body; acoiipling'part carried on the frame structure ;land means'for transmitting power from said Tpower receiving shaftte said'transniission `shaft and includ-y gearing; aVV front running i' meters ture and truck Vf?. A motor truck trailer having,`in combination, a truck body provided with a rear running gear including difierential gearing;

ing al gear.y arrangement on the frame strue- -ture a'daptedto compensate for dierences i 'in movement of the swiveled frame struc-` body, siibstan'tially g vas described. v

-a transmission shaft for' ,saidv differential 'with a frame structure; a swivel connecting the frame vstructure tothe truck body;` a

`coupling part on the .frame `structurefloy which to connect the trailer to a tow.; av

power receiving shaft on the frame struc-v ture; compensationgearing arranged onthe vframe structure comprising'a 4driven gear, a

drive gear and an interinediate'gear with gear associated Y pinions engaging between said drive 'gear' Vand drivengear; a pair-of V,curvedracks sup-V ported; respectively by the vframe structure and triickbody'; a differential arm on the" Yintermediate gearand having a pinion Vengaging between'saidY racks;V and a driving connectionV'betweenfsaid driven gear A and said transmission' shaft, substantially asV described.

8. The combination with a, Ymotor truck trailer having a swiveled 'front running gear structure and a rear, axley diiierentiahfjsaid front ruiming gear adapted to be swung on a vertical axis relative tosaid trailer of an operating transmission shaft for driving said" rear axle diderentialia power receiving shaftVv carried by the frontgriinningfgear structure and adapted Vto receive power from .a tow` ing vehicle, dierential gearing Vfor driving the trailer front wheels,"an operative connection between said powerV receiving shaft 'and said difierentialigearing, compensating gearing for driving said operating transmissionshaft,l and a driving connection betweenl said `power receiving Yshaft and said compensating gearing.` g 3 5 9. In combination with a motor triickpro-A vided with power' transmission includinga rear axle differentiahof a trailer chassis, provided with froiit and rear axlefdifierentials Y havinga driving connection with'thefront and rear wheels respectively', the trailer front axleadapted VVto be swung on a verticalaxis relative to-thehtraiier lrear axle,za power receiving shaft operatively connecting said'movtor truck rear axle differential and the trailer front axlediiferential, an operating transmis- ICC ICS

sion shaft having a driving connection with n said trailer rear Vaxle differential, and compensating gearing operatively connected to 'ing transmission shaft. Y

l0. in combination with a motor truck pro-v vided'with power transmission includingfa 'rea-r axle differential, of a trailer chassis,pro-

vided with front and rearY axle differentials having a driving rconnection with Vthe vfront shaft, compensating gearing mounted upon and rear wheels respectively',.the trailer front axle adapted to be swung on a vertical axis relative to the trailer rear axle, a power receiving shaft operatively connecting said motor truck rear axle differential and the trailer front axle differential, an koperating transmission shaft having a driving connection with said trailer rear axle differential, a stud said stud shaft and comprising a gear operatively connected to said power receiving shaftand a drivengear adapted to mesh with a pinion mounted upon the forward end of s aid operating transmission shaft.

11. The combination of a motor vehicle provided with a rear axle differential, a

' trailer provided with front and rear axle differentials and having a swiveled front runf ning gear structure connected with said vehicle, the trailer front axle adapted to be swung on a vertical axis relative to the trailer rear axle, a power receiving shaft operatively connecting the vehicle differential mechanism anda drive gear operatively connecting said power receiving shaft.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JACOB SALOMONSEN.

. and the trailer front wheel differential, ay

transmission shafthaving a driving connection with said trailer rear axle differential, and gearing operatively interposed between said power receiving shaft and said transmission shaft including compensating differential gearing adapted to maintain an uninterrupted driving connection.

12. The combination of a motor vehicle provided with a rear axle differential, a trailer provided with front and rear axle differentials and having a swiveled front running gear structure connected with said vehicle, the trailer` front axle adapted to be swung on a vertical axis relativev to the trailer Vadapted to be driven thereby, said compeny sating gearing including a differential havrear axle, a power receiving shaftioperatively connecting the vehicle differential mechanism and the trailer front wheel differential, a transmission shaft having a driving connection with said trailer rear axle differential, compensatingl gearing operatively connected to said power receiving shaft and ing a driving connection with said transmission shaft.

13, The combination of a motor vehicle pro- 

